[coreyjschmidt]

Dear friends,
I am 26 years old, with a bachelor's degree in linguistics, and I have 2 years experience in carpentry in the U.S.A., 8 months in Illinois in residential construction/remodeling and the rest in Alaska building mostly boardwalks (piers) and docks. For 2 months, I ran a boardwalk construction project with 1-3 helpers.
The job involved standing large poles (we call them piling) up to 20 feet or more long (old creosote treated telephone poles) and building a deck on top. I have done a few other solo projects, such as an exterior staircase, and dock repair, and I have helped build several boardwalks and docks.(we build them in the tidal zone here at least 2 feet higher than the highest tide and connect them with hinged ramps to floating docks, since the tide varies by as much as 30 feet (about 10meters) in this part of Alaska! I have no official qualifications and only 2 years experience. All my construction work in U.S. has been casual- no official employment, just receiving pay direct from customer.
I love the freedom and wilderness of Alaska, but I want a change of scenery and climate and in general a new experience:) I love rural areas and I am interested in coromandel, bay of islands, wanaka, or anywhere rural and forested.
I am tentatively planning to apply for a WHV and come to NZ late january 2008.

I wonder what are my chances of getting a basic work permit to work some construction job full time and stay a couple of years?, and also if (alternately) it would be possible to get involved in an apprenticeship program in NZ such as national certificate in carpentry level 4.? could i get a student visa to do this? looks like for admission to national certificate in carpentry level 4 programs at the various polytechnics, one must already have employment with a builder.
Any knowledgeable advice is greatly appreciated. Thank you and peace to you!